Interfaith Prayer Service Sets the Tone for 10th Anniversary of September 11 Tragedies
9/13/2011
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“Shalom aleikum, assalam aleikum, peace to you.”

With those words, Fr. Corey Brost, CSV and the Children of Abraham Coalition opened a solemn prayer service to commemorate the 10th anniversary of September 11.

They stood in solidarity with Jewish and Muslim leaders from local faith communities, and together they underscored the need for faith and understanding to restore peace in a world still reeling from the events of September 11.

“We, the members of the Children of Abraham Coalition, are a hope-filled bunch,” Fr. Brost said in his opening remarks. “We believe firmly that love, not hate, rules the world, and that God, the source of that love, will have the last word.”

The event took place at North School Park in Arlington Heights and drew nearly 1,000 people, including Mayor Arlene Mulder as well as Arlington Heights police and fire personnel who formed an honor guard.

 Rabbi Steven Hart from Temple Chai in Long Grove and Moulana Meboob Mehdi from the Islamic Education Center in Glendale Heights, addressed the crowd, as well as teenage members of the coalition, who inspired the audience with their youthful voices and earnest prayers.
“Imagine a world built upon harmony,” said Tyler Harris, reading from an original piece, “Our Vision for the World. “What if diversity was used to bring people together, rather than build up walls and barriers.”

Fr. Brost founded the organization last year, figuring the only way to respond to the hatred created by the terrorist attacks was for religions to work together.

“The great religious traditions in our world all agree on the need for working with other religions for peace,” Fr. Brost says. “This prayer service is a way to show that publicly, while standing up against the voices in our world that try to spread hatred or bigotry against a specific religion.”